Call setup request confirmation

ABSTRACT

At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising receiving a call setup request, and automatically providing an indication that the call setup request is being processed. At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising providing a call setup request to a network, and receiving an indication that the call setup request is being processed. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope.

BACKGROUND

In certain telecommunications architectures, such as Voice over IP, there can be noticeable call setup delays or post-dial delays (PDD). When such delays are sufficiently long, the caller can hear extended silence and thereby become confused and/or frustrated by the perception that the call is not proceeding. Accordingly, the caller can needlessly hang-up and re-dial.

SUMMARY

At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising receiving a call setup request, and automatically providing an indication that the call setup request is being processed.

At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising providing a call setup request to a network, and receiving an indication that the call setup request is being processed.

At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a graphical user interface comprising a visual rendering of a call setup request indication, said visual rendering ceasing upon receipt of a result of a call setup request.

At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a user interface comprising an audible rendering of a call setup request indication, said audible rendering ceasing upon receipt of a result of a call setup request.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its wide variety of potential embodiments will be readily understood via the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 1000 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 2000 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 3000 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an information device 5000 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In certain telecommunications architectures, such as Voice over IP, there can be noticeable call setup delays or post-dial delays (PDD). When such delays are sufficiently long, the caller can hear extended silence and thereby become confused and/or frustrated by the perception that the call is not proceeding. Accordingly, the caller can needlessly hang-up and re-dial.

At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising providing a call setup request to a network, such as via initiating a telephone call, and receiving an indication that the call setup request is being processed.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 1000 of the present invention. At activity 1100, a caller initiates a call on a telephone and/or telephonic device, such as a Voice over IP device. At activity 1200, a call setup request is propagated through a network by, for example, a PBX, switch, and/or router, to arrive at a controller. At activity 1300, the controller propagates the call setup request, and while call setup is proceeding and/or being processed, the controller can return a call setup request confirmation through the network. The call setup request confirmation can result in the caller perceiving an audible and/or visual indication that call setup is proceeding. At activity 1400, when call set-up is complete, the controller can send a message to that effect through the network. As a result, the caller can perceive a ringing tone. If call-set up was unsuccessful due to the called party's line being busy, the controller can send a message to that effect, such that the caller receives a busy tone.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 2000 of the present invention. At activity 2100, a caller can place a new call from an IP phone to an IP PBX. At activity 2120, the IP PBX can provide a call setup request to a router. As used herein, the term “call setup request” is a generic term referring to any call setup request message and/or signal. In certain embodiments, the call setup request can be an H.225 setup request in H.323, an SIP invite, and/or a similar MGCP and/or MEGACO message. In certain embodiments, the call set request can be any form of voice over IP message or signal.

At activity 2140, the router can provide a call setup request to a controller. As used herein, the term “controller” is used generically. Depending upon the network architecture, the controller can include a component containing call processing logic, or can include a component that does not contain call processing logic, such as a border element and/or a network gateway.

At activity 2160, the controller can provide a call setup request in a direction of the called party. At activity 2220, the controller can respond to the received call setup request by providing a signal and/or message containing a call setup request confirmation (CSRC) to the router. At activity 2240, the router can provide a CSRC to the IP PBX. At activity 2260, the IP PBX can provide a CSRC to the IP phone. At activity 2280, the IP phone can provide a CSRC, in the form of an audible and/or visible indicator, to the caller to indicate that call setup is proceeding. That is, at a user interface, such as an audible and/or graphical user interface, an audible and/or visual indicator can be rendered that indicates that call setup is proceeding. Thus, the CSRC can take one or more of many forms, including an in-band and/or out-of-band control signal, an audible indicator, and/or a visual indicator.

At activity 2300, when call setup is complete, and the called party is available, the controller can receive a call setup complete message. At activity 2320, the controller can provide a call setup complete message to the router, which, at activity 2340, can provide a call setup complete message to the IP PBX. In an alternative embodiment, the network can provide a ring back message to the IP PBX. At activity 2360, the IP PBX can provide a ring back message to the IP phone. At activity 2380, the IP phone can provide an audible and/or visual ringing indicator to the caller. If the called party's line is busy or a network announcement is returned, a busy tone and/or the announcement can be provided by the IP phone.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 3000 of the present invention. At activity 3120, a caller can place a new call from telephone to a TDM PBX. At activity 3140, the TDM PBX can provide a call setup request to a router. As used herein, the term “call setup request” is a generic term referring to any call setup request message and/or signal. In certain embodiments, the call setup request can be an H.225 setup request in H.323, an SIP invite, and/or a similar MGCP and/or MEGACO message.

At activity 3160, the router can provide a call setup request to a controller. As used herein, the term “controller” is used generically. Depending upon the network architecture, the controller can include a component containing call processing logic, or can include a component that does not contain call processing logic, such as a border element and/or a network gateway.

At activity 3180, the controller can provide a call setup request in a direction of the called party. At activity 3220, the controller can respond to the received call setup request by providing a signal and/or message containing a call setup request confirmation (CSRC) to the router. At activity 3240, the router can provide a CSRC to the TDM PBX. At activity 3260, the TDM PBX can provide a CSRC to the telephone. At activity 3280, the telephone can provide a CSRC, in the form of an audible and/or visible indicator, to the caller to indicate that call setup is proceeding. Thus, the CSRC can take one or more of many forms, including an in-band and/or out-of-band control signal, an audible indicator, and/or a visual indicator.

At activity 3300, when call setup is complete, and the called party is available, the controller can receive a call setup complete message. At activity 3320, the controller can provide a call setup complete message to the router. At activity 3340, router can provide a ring back message to the TDM PBX. At activity 3360, the TDM PBX can provide a ring back message to the telephone. The call setup complete message and/or ring back message terminates the CSRC. At activity 3380, the telephone can provide an audible ringing indicator to the caller. If the called party's line is busy or a network announcement is returned, a busy tone and/or the announcement can be provided by the telephone.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000 of the present invention. Telephone device 4100, such as a traditional telephone, a cellular telephone, a Voice over IP phone (“IP phone”), etc., can be connected to an exchange 4200, such as a PBX or central switching office. When a caller using telephone device 4100 initiates a call, exchange 4200 can provide a call setup request via a switch and/or router 4300. The call setup request can be received by a controller 4400, which can possess suitable circuitry, logic, programming, and/or other form of machine intelligence to provide a call setup request confirmation (“CSRC”) back to router 4300, and propagate a call setup request through a network 4500 toward a called party telephone line 4600. From router 4300, the CSRC can be provided to exchange 4200 and then to telephone device 4100, which can provide an audible and/or visual CSRC to the caller. Note that in certain embodiments, exchange 4200 and/or router 4300 can be eliminated, such that telephone device 4100 can be directly connected to controller 4400.

Any of devices 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, and/or 4500 can be coupled to, and/or include one or more databases (not shown). For example, controller 4400 can be coupled to a database that specifies the type of CSRC selected for telephone device 4100. As another example, a telephone device 4100 can be programmed to provide a chosen type of CSRC indicator in response to receiving a CSRC message and/or signal.

In various exemplary embodiments, a wide variety of CSRC's are contemplated, including audible and/or visual indicators. Moreover, the CSRC can be selected by a service provider, a customer, and/or a caller. That is, although the telephone line to which telephone device 4100 is connected might be billed in the name of a father (the customer), a teenaged son of the father might be the caller for a particular call, and might choose a particular type of call request setup confirmation.

The CSRC can be changed. For example, at a given point in time, someone associated with telephone device 4100 might select a particular CSRC tone. At another point in time, the customer and/or a caller associated with telephone device 4100 might select a different CSRC tone.

The CSRC can be variable. For example, a CSRC tone can be variable in pitch, amplitude, duration, etc. By way of further example, a caller can select a tone that becomes louder and/or higher in pitch the longer it is played (that is, the longer the call setup takes to be completed and/or terminated). As another example, a caller can select a clicking sound in which the clicks become longer or shorter in duration the longer the call setup proceeds.

The CSRC can be an audible announcement. For example, the CSRC can be an audible announcement, perhaps repetitively, of the directory name associated with the called number. As another example, the CSRC can be an audible advertisement, potentially for classes, manufacturers, and/or providers of goods and/or services selected by the service provider, customer, and/or caller. As yet another example, the CSRC can be music, potentially of a variety selected by the service provider, customer, and/or caller.

The CSRC can be visual, and can be displayed on a light, display, screen, and/or monitor. For example, the CSRC can be an illuminated and/or pulsing light and/or LED. As another example, the CSRC can be a graphical hourglass, spinning beach ball, stopwatch, progress bar, etc. As yet another example, the CSRC can be an animated figure, such as a runner, an animal, an insect, etc. As still another example, the CSRC can a slideshow of chosen photographs, advertisements, announcements, etc.

The CSRC can be both audible and visual. For example, the CSRC can be music and a light that blinks with gradually increasing frequency or gradually changing color.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a generic information device 5000 of the present invention. Information device 5000 can represent telephone device 4100, exchange 4200, router 4300, and/or controller 4400. In certain embodiments, information device 5000 can be implemented as a telephone, a cellular telephone, an IP telephone, etc. In certain embodiments, information device 5000 can be implemented on a general purpose or special purpose computer, such as a personal computer, workstation, minicomputer, mainframe, supercomputer, laptop, and/or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), etc., a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and/or peripheral integrated circuit elements, an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a hardware electronic logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, and/or a programmable logic device such as a PLD, PLA, FPGA, or PAL, or the like, etc. In general any device on which resides a finite state machine capable of implementing the at least a portion of a method described herein may be used for information device 5000.

Information device 5000 can include multiple interconnected components, such as one or more communication interfaces 5100, one or more processors 5200, one or more memories 5300 containing instructions 5400, and/or one or more input/output (I/O) devices 5500, etc.

In one embodiment, communication interface 5100 can be a bus, a connector, a telephone line interface, a wireless network interface, a cellular network interface, a local area network interface, a broadband cable interface, a telephone, a cellular phone, a cellular modem, a telephone data modem, a fax modem, a wireless transceiver, an Ethernet card, a cable modem, a digital subscriber line interface, a bridge, a hub, a router, or other similar device.

Each processor 5200 can be a commercially available general-purpose microprocessor. In certain embodiments, the processor can be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or the like, that has been designed to implement in its hardware and/or firmware at least a part of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Memory 5300 can be coupled to processor 5200 and can comprise any device capable of storing analog or digital information, such as a hard disk, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, and any combination thereof. Memory 5300 can comprise data 5350, such as one or more databases, tables, data repositories, archives, and/or any other data storage technique and/or form of stored data. Memory 5300 also can comprise and/or store instructions 5400 adapted to be executed by processor 5200 according to one or more activities of a method of the present invention.

Instructions 5400 can be embodied in software, which can take any of numerous forms that are well known in the art. Instructions 5400 can control operation of information device 5000 and/or one or more other devices, systems, or subsystems.

Input/output (I/O) device 5500 can be an audio and/or visual device, including, for example, a light, LED, monitor, display, keyboard, keypad, touchpad, pointing device, microphone, speaker, video camera, camera, scanner, and/or printer, including a port to which an I/O device can be attached, connected, and/or coupled.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, references specifically identified and discussed herein are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 

1. A method, comprising: from a Voice over IP device, receiving a call setup request at an IP PBX, the call setup request an SIP invite; automatically providing an indication that the call setup request is being processed, the indication provided responsive to a call setup request confirmation received from the IP PBX as an out-of-band signal, the indication comprising an audible announcement of a directory name associated with a called number; and responsive to a received call setup completed message, providing a ring back message to the IP PBX, the IP PBX adapted to cause the Voice over IP device to provide a ring back as an indicator of call setup completion.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising ceasing the indication when call setup is complete.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the call setup request.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering the indication as a visual representation of a stopwatch.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the call setup request relates to a telephone call.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the call setup request relates to a cellular telephone call.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the call setup request relates to a voice over IP call.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the call setup request is received by a controller.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the call setup request is received by a network gateway.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is a repetitive audible announcement of the directory name associated with the called number.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a visual portion of an animated figure of an animal.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises music.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises an animated figure of a runner.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises an advertisement
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a caller selected slideshow of announcements.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a caller selectable slideshow of photographs.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a caller adjustable slideshow of advertisements.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided via a voice over IP signal.
 19. A system, comprising from a Voice over IP device, means for receiving a call setup request at an IP PBX, the call setup request a Media Gateway Control Protocol request; and means for automatically providing an indication that the call setup request is being processed, the indication provided responsive to a call setup request confirmation received from the IP PBX as an out-of-band signal, the indication comprising an audible announcement of a directory name associated with a called number, said means adapted to, responsive to a received call setup completed message, provide a ring back message to the IP PBX, the IP PBX adapted to cause the Voice over IP device to a ring back as an indicator of call setup completion.
 20. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for activities comprising: from a Voice over IP device, receiving a call setup request at an IP PBX, the call setup request a MEGACO request; automatically providing an indication that the call setup request is being processed, the indication provided responsive to a call setup request confirmation received from the IP PBX as an out-of-band signal, the indication comprising an audible announcement of a directory name associated with a called number; and responsive to a received call setup completed message, providing a ring back message to the IP PBX, the IP PBX adapted to cause the Voice over IP device to provide a ring back as an indicator of call setup completion.
 21. A method, comprising: from a Voice over IP device, providing a call setup request to a TDM PBX, the call setup request a SIP invite; receiving an indication that the call setup request is being processed, the indication provided responsive to a call setup request confirmation received from the TDM PBX as an out-of-band signal, the indication comprising an audible announcement of a directory name associated with a called number; and responsive to a received call setup completed message, providing a ring back message to the TDM PBX, the TDM PBX adapted to cause the Voice over IP device to provide a ring back as an indicator of call setup completion.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving a call setup result when call setup is complete.
 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising rendering the indication, the indication comprising a tone that becomes higher in pitch as a time far call setup becomes longer.
 24. The method of claim 21, further comprising rendering the indication to a caller, the indication comprising a caller-selectable clicking sound, each sequential click becoming longer as a time for call setup becomes longer.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the call setup request relates to a telephone call.
 26. The method of claim 21, wherein the call setup request relates to a cellular telephone call.
 27. The method of claim 21, wherein the call setup request relates to a voice over IP call.
 28. The method of claim 21, wherein the call setup request is provided to a controller.
 29. The method of claim 21, wherein the call setup request is provided to a network gateway.
 30. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises a user-selectable clicking sound, each sequential click becoming shorter as a time for call setup becomes longer.
 31. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises a pulsing light.
 32. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises music selected by a caller.
 33. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises an animated insect.
 34. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises an advertisement, the advertisement comprising a caller selected provider of goods.
 35. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication comprises an announcement.
 36. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication is selectable by a service provider.
 37. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication is adjustable by a caller via the Voice over IP device.
 38. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication is received via a voice over IP signal.
 39. A system, comprising means for providing a call setup request to a network; and means for receiving an indication that the call setup request is being processed, the indication responsive to a confirmation received at an IP PBX from an IP muter, the confirmation an in-band signal, the indication comprising an audible announcement of a directory name associated with a called number, the IP PBX adapted to cause the means for receiving an indication to provide a ring back message as an indicator of call setup completion.
 40. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for activities comprising: providing a call setup request at an IP router from a TDM PBX via a network; receiving an indication that the call setup request is being processed, the indication responsive to a confirmation signal received at the TDM PBX from the IP router the confirmation signal an out-of-band signal, the indication comprising an audible announcement of a directory name associated with a called number; and responsive to a received call setup completed message, providing a ring back message to the TDM PBX, the TDM PBX adapted to cause a Voice over IP device to provide a ring bark as an indicator of call setup completion.
 41. A graphical user interface providing a visual rendering of a call setup request indication, said visual rendering selected by a caller from a set comprising a spinning beach ball and a progress bar, said visual rendering ceasing upon receipt of a result of a call setup request, the indication comprising an audible announcement of a directory name associated with a called number, the audible announcement heard via a device communicatively coupled to said graphical user interface.
 42. A user interface providing an audible rendering of a call setup request indication, said audible rendering comprising a caller selectable tone that becomes louder the longer a call setup takes to be completed, said audible rendering ceasing upon receipt of a result of a call setup request, the audible rendering comprising an audible announcement of a directory name associated with a called number. 